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England head coach Stuart Lancaster has dropped his controversial selection of Sam Burgess ahead of the hosts final group game against Uruguay on Saturday.
The centre is just one of nine changes from the side that lost to Australia at Twickenham last weekend, with England looking to avoid their third successive defeat.
In the side are Alex Goode and George Ford in the back line, with Owen Farrell making the switch to inside centre. Mako Vunipola and Nick Easter come into the pack as Chris Robshaw continues to lead the side in their final game of this year’s competition.
Brad Barritt and Courtney Lawes are both sidelined with injuries picked up against Australia and Wales respectively, whilst Ben Morgan and Ben Youngs have also been left out following their lack of match fitness.
Lancaster has been heavily criticised after he failed to guide England past the group stages of this year’s tournament, and his future remains uncertain, but the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has said there will be no imminent decision on his contract.
Speaking ahead of the game, Lancaster said “This is an opportunity for us to finish the tournament with a strong performance against Uruguay and a chance for the likes of young players such as Jack Nowell and Henry Slade to play in a World Cup.”
“We owe it to ourselves and the supporters who have been brilliant throughout. This is an important game for rugby in the north of England and we want to give those people who have been looking forward to this game something to cheer about.”
England head into their final group game with just one win from three games, and the hosts will be desperate to avoid a third successive defeat in what has already been an embarrassing tournament.
